Rack arrangement for dishwasher



RACK ARRANGEMENT FOR DISHWASHER Filed Jan. 17, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet lFIGJ INVENTOR. LAUREN \N. GUTH BYMFW HIS ATTORNEY y 4, 1965 1.. w. GUTH3,181,924

RACK ARRANGEMENT FOR DISHWASHER Filed Jan. 17, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

LAUREN \U. GUTH 'ro RNEY United States Patent 3,181,924 RACK ARRANGEMENTFUR DEHWASHER Lauren W. Guth, 3210 Rock Creel; Drive, Louisville, Ky.Filed Jan. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 340,539 2 Claims. (6i. 312-330) Thisapplication comprises a continuation-in-part of the copendingapplication of Lauren W. Guth, Serial No. 216,380, filed August 13,1962, and now abandoned. This invention relates to a rack arrangementfor dishwashers, and more particularly to an improved arrangement forpermitting the loading of both large and small items in either of twovertically spaced racks positioned within a washing compartment.

It is an object of my invention to provide, in a dishwashing machine, anarrangement of two vertically spaced racks which will permit eitherlarge or small items to be loaded into either of the two racks as aresult of the relationship of the racks to each other and to thecompartment.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide a dishwasher which has awashing compartment with its upper portion substantially rectangular invertical cross section in the usual manner, Vertically spaced upper andlower open framework dish racks are positioned in the compartment,together with suitable means for washing dishes supported on the dishracks. Thus, when dishes are loaded onto the racks and the compartmentis closed, a dishwashing op eration will be effected.

The upper rack has a first part formed to provide a relatively largevertical dish receiving distance between the racks and a relativelysmall vertical dish receiving distance between the upper rack and thetop of the compartment. A second part of the upper rack is formed so asto provide a relatively small vertical dish receiving space between theracks and a relatively large vertical dish receiving space between theupper rack and the top of the compartment. This means that dishes suchas large plates may be positioned in either the upper or the lower rack,with the same being true of relatively small dishes.

This is an important advantage in many dishwashing machines,particularly those of the drop door type wherein the racks slide outthrough a front opening for loading and unloading. Where, as isconventional, all large dishes must be placed in the lower rack, itcreates a problem when the usual practice is followed of carrying thedishes from the table place setting by place setting. This results fromthe fact that each place setting usually includes, for instance, a largedish, a small dish, and a glass. Where only the lower rack will takelarge dishes, and the upper rack is intended for glasses and smalldishes, it means that when a place setting is brought out the lower rackmust be brought out to put the large dish in, and the upper rack must bepulled out to position the rest of the place setting.

My invention obviates this diiiiculty by permitting an entire placesetting to be positioned in the same rack so that a single rack may beused until it is full. Then that rack may be returned to its positionwithin the compartment, and the other rack may be pulled out forloading.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of thisspecification. My invention, however, together with further objects andadvantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, with some of theparts broken away to illustrate details, of a dishwasher embodying myinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the dishwasher of FIGURE 1 withits door open and its racks out in loading position; and

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 1,showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a dishwasher 1 having acabinet 2 within which there is defined a washing compartment 3 which,insofar as its upper portion within which a pair of open framework dishracks 4 and 5 are positioned is concerned, is generally rectangular invertical cross section. Racks 4 and 5 are vertically spaced within thecompartment and provide support for dishes during a dishwashingoperation. The upper rack and the lower rack may be independently movedforwardly out of the compartment, the upper rack by means of a slidearrangement 6 and the lower rack by means of a slide arrangement 7. Whena dishwashing operation is being provided a door 8 may be verticallypositioned so as to close the compartment 3. On the other hand, whendishes are to be loaded or unloaded between operations, the racks 4 and5 may be moved forwardly out of the compartment 3 over the open door 8to the positions shown in FIGURE 2.

Dishwasher 1 incorporates, within compartment 3, suit able washing meanswhich in this case is embodied in a rotatable water ejecting member 9positioned below lower rack 5, together with a telescoping member 10positioned at the center of member 9. When under pressure, a part 11 ofmember 10 rises somewhat and is provided with apertures in its top so asto eject water with substantial force against dishes in the upper rack14 at the same time that member 9 is ejecting water against the dis-hesin both racks. The circulation of water and the rotation of the members9 and ltl may be caused in the conventional manner, which normally willinclude a pumping and motor assembly (not shown).

With such a structure, a complete dishwashing operation may readily beprovided by means of a conventional sequence control assembly (notshown) which controls, in suitable sequence and for an appropriatenumber of cycles, the entry of water and washing materials, the sprayingof the dishes, and the removal of the water. It will be understood that,as thus far described, the components of the dishwasher are conventionaland are provided in dishwashers widely available for purchase by thepublic. Such a dishwasher is, for instance, more fully described incopending application Serial No. 149,891 of Norman L. Kendt, now PatentNo. 3,125,249, filed November 3, 1961, for Dishwasher With ImprovedTreating Agent Dispenser Mechanism.

The lower rack 5' is formed substantially as shown so as to providesupport for dishes of any type including glassware and chinaware, thechinaware including both large and small dishes. The upper rack 4,according to my invention, is formed so as to have a first portion 12which has its lowest part 13 raised a substantial distance above rack 5so that there is substantially more vertical room for dishes between theracks, that is, in the lower rack, than there is for dishes in part 12of rack 4. In other words, part 12 of rack 4 is suitable for smalldishes rather than large ones. In this connection, part 12 may bespecially formed as shown so as to be especially suitable for glasswarealthough, if so desired, it may be provided with a conventionalformation which makes it suitable for all the various types of dishes tobe washed. Because of the height of part 13 above rack 5, dishes ofsubstantial height, including dinner plates and the like, may beinserted on the left hand side of rack 5 without any interferencewhatsoever from the upper rack.

The right hand portion 14 of rack 4 has a base, or supporting part 15,which is positioned quite low over rack 5 so that it affords room forlarge plates in the upper rack enemas at the expense of the verticalspace above the lower rack. In other words, portion 14 of the upper rackdecreases the amount of vertical room in the lower rack to an extentwhere large plates may no longer be positioned therein. In effect then,the forming of the upper rack is such that on the left hand side thereis sufficient vertical space between the racks to permit large dishes tobe positioned in the lower rack but only small dishes in the upper rack.On the right hand side of the compartment 3, as viewed in the drawing,the upper rack is formed so that there is sufficient vertical space topermit the provision of large plates in the upper rack, while theavailable vertical distance between the upper and lower racks issubstantially less so that it is appropriate for glassware and smalldishes.

As a result of this division of the upper rack into two different partseach having different characteristics, either rack may be pulled out byan operator and individual place settings loaded therein without theneed for continually moving the upper rack. Large plates, small platesand glassware may all be provided in each rack, in opposition to thegeneral condition prevailing today wherein large plates may not beplaced in the upper rack, and the upper rack must be pushed back in eachtime a large plate is to be loaded.

It will, of course, be understood that while the lower rack has beenshown in FIGURE 1 as being of a conventional design it may be speciallyformed as shown in FIGURE 3 so that the part under portion 14 of theupper rack is particularly well suited for the reception of glassware orsmall dishes and the like, rather than making the entire rack suitablefor the reception of all types of dishes as shown. Referring to FIGURE3, it can be seen that lower rack is provided at its right hand sidewith a configuration similar to part 12 of rack 4 which makes thisportion of lower rack 5 especially suitable for glassware and othersmall dishes. Also, a suitable silverware basket, of any conventionaldesign, may be included as part of either or both racks.

While I have shown and described one particular em bodiment of myinvention, I do not desire the invention to be limited to the preciseconstruction disclosed, and I intend by the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A dishwasher comprising:

(a) a washing compartment,

(b) an upper rack disposed within said compartment,

(0) said upper rack having a first part formed to provide a relativelylarge vertical dish-receiving space between said upper rack and the topof said compartment,

(d) means on said first part of said upper rack to sup X} port largedishes in an attitude to facilitate washing thereof,

(e) said upper rack having a second part formed to provide a relativelysmall vertical dish-receiving space between said upper rack and the topof said compartment,

(7) means on said second part of said upper rack particularly adapted tosupport glasses, cups and small dishes in an attitude to facilitatewashing thereof, and

(g) a lower rack spaced below said upper rack and disposed within saidcompartment,

(/1) said lower rack having means directly below said first part of saidupper rack particularly adapted to support glasses, cups and smalldishes and further having means directly below said second part of saidupper rack to support large dishes,

(i) each of said means on said lower rack being formed to support saidglasses, cups and dishes in an attitude to facilitate washing thereof.

2. A dishwasher comprising:

(a) a washing compartment,

(b) an upper rack disposed within said compartment,

(0) said upper rack having a first part formed to provide a relativelylarge vertical dish-receiving space between said upper rack and the topof said compartment,

(d) means on said first part of said upper rack to support large dishesin an attitude to facilitate washing thereof,

(c) said upper rack having a second part formed to provide a relativelysmall vertical dish-receiving space between said upper rack and the topof said compartment,

(7) means on said second part of said upper rack particularly adapted tosupport glasses, cups and small dishes in an attitude to facilitatewashing thereof, and

(g) a lower rack spaced below said upper rack and disposed within saidcompartment,

(11) said lower rack having a first part below said first part of saidupper rack with means particularly adapted to support glasses, cups andsmall dishes in an attitude to facilitate washing thereof,

(i) said lower rack having a second part below said second part of saidupper rack with means to support large dishes in an attitude tofacilitate washing thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK B. SHERRY,Primary Examiner.

1. A DISHWASHER COMPRISING: (A) A WASHING COMPARTMENT, (B) AN UPPER RACKDISPOSED WITHIN SAID COMPARTMENT, (C) SAID UPPER RACK HAVING A FIRSTPART FORMED TO PROVIDE A RELATIVELY LARGE VERTICAL DISH-RECEIVING SPACEBETWEEN SAID UPPER RACK AND THE TOP OF SAID COMPARTMENT, (D) MEANS ONSAID FIRST PART OF SAID UPPER RACK TO SUPPORT LARGE DISHES IN ANATTITUDE TO FACILITATE WASHING THEREOF, (E) SAID UPPER RACK HAVING ASECOND PART FORMED TO PROVIDE A RELATIVELY SMALL VERTICAL DISH-RECEIVINGSPACE BETWEEN SAID UPPER RACH AND THE TOP OF SAID COMPARTMENT, (F) MEANSON SAID SECOND PART OF SAID UPPER RACK PARTICULARLY ADAPTED TO SUPPORTGLASSES, CUPS AND SMALL DISHES IN AN ATTITUDE TO FACILITATE WASHINGTHEREOF, AND (G) A LOWER RACK SPACED BELOW SAID UPPER RACK AND DISPOSEDWITHIN SAID COMPARTMENT, (H) SAID LOWER RACK HAVING MEANS DIRECTLY BELOWSAID